India declares itself free from bird flu

India has declared itself free from the highly contagious avian influenza (H5N1) or bird flu even as it stressed the need for continued surveillance.

"India has declared itself free from avian influenza (H5N1) from September 5, 2016 and notified the same to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE)," the Department of Animal Husbandry under the Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.

In a letter to Chief Secretaries of states, the Centre has emphasised the need for "continued surveillance especially in the vulnerable areas bordering infected countries and in areas visited by migratory birds".

India had notified outbreak of avian influenza on May 9, 2016 at Humnabad, Bidar district, Karnataka. In areas on the one-kilometre radius of the outbreak location, the government took measures, including culling, disinfection and clean-up, to contain the spread of avian influenza.

India exported 659,304 tonnes of poultry products worth Rs 768.72 crore in 2015-16, mainly to Oman, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Germany and the Maldives. The country last experienced an outbreak of the disease on May 9, which originated in a farm in Humnabad in Bidar district of Karnataka.

Poultry is one of the fastest growing segments of the agricultural sector in India. While the production of agricultural crops has been rising at a rate of 1.5 to two per cent per annum, that of eggs and broilers has been rising at 8-10 per cent. As a result, India is now the world's fifth largest egg producer and the 18th largest producer of broilers.

Tamil Nadu counts for the maximum egg production, while Hyderabad is the city with maximum number of poultry farms and hatcheries.

"Post the surveillance, the state has shown no evidence of presence of the disease... There has been no further outbreak reported in the country thereafter," the ministry said.

Bird flu affects mainly the domestic poultry. The disease spreads from infected birds to other winged creatures through contact with nasal and respiratory secretions and also due to contamination of feed and water.